Safety-envelop.



T. O. HUSTON.

SAFETY ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I9. 19:4.

1,140,595. Patented May 25, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

. 21mm: THoMfls Hus-row Q/Vi/bnemo WWW THE NORRIS PETERS CO.,PHum-1 10.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. O. HUSTON.

SAFETY ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1914.v

1 ,140,595 Patented May 25, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JONES BPHLY. KEE 6 Co- NEwaRk N-J.

avwmdo'a Tuomas HUSTON 7HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTLrLrTHa, WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITE SAFETY-ENVELOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed August 19, 1914. Serial No. 857,556.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. HUSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneva, in the county of Fillmore and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Envelops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in envelops, and an object thereof is the provision of an envelop which is impossible to be opened without detection.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an envelop which when folded has the contour of an envelop of ordinary construction, but which is provided with interlocking sealing tongues which securely lock the flaps of the envelop together, so that the envelop cannot be opened without tearing or cutting the same.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an envelop which is provided with interlocking sealing tongues, the tongues being perforated so that the mucilage or other sealing material will fill the perforations and provide a plurality of locking joints between the tongues and the flaps of the envelop when the sealing material hardens.

WVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing one side of the envelop in blank form; Fig. 2 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing one of the end flaps in folded position; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the envelop folded with the sealing flap in open position; Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the envelop folded and ready for mailing; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the blank showing the reverse side of the same from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my improved envelop consists of a blank of paper or the like which comprises a body portion 1, and tapering overlapping end flaps 2, the overlapping portions of the end flaps being gummed to secure the same together. The body portion 1 of the envelop is also provided with tapering side flaps 3 and 4, the flap 3 being of relatively greater length than the flap 4, and the flaps 3 and 4 being provided with sealing tongues 5 and 6 respectively in which are formed a plurality of perforations or openings 7. The inner face of the flap 3 is gummed adjacent its opposite side edges, whereby the flap may be secured against the end flaps 2, and when the end flaps are overlapped and sealed and the side flap 3 is sealed against the end flap, the envelop is in a position to receive an article to be mailed in the ordinary manner. The sealing tongue 5 is adapted to be folded backwardly upon the flap 3, and the outer face of the tongue 5 is gummed, the flap 6 which is of relatively greater length than the tongue 5 being gummed upon its opposite faces.

When it is desired to seal the envelop after the article to be mailed is placed therein, the gummed surface of the tongue 5 and the opposite faces of the tongue 6 are moistened and the fiap 4 is folded to close the opening in the envelop, and the tongue 6 is disposed between the tongue 5 and the flap 3. It will be seen that when the envelop is closed in this manner, the tongue 5 of the lower flap 3 is sealed between the tongue 6 and the flap 4, and the tongue 6 intermediate of its ends is sealed against the outer face of the flap 3, the ends of the tongue 6 which project beyond the ends of the tongue 5 being sealed against the outer faces of the flaps 2 and against the inner face of the flap 4. In this manner, it will be seen that the tongue 5 is securely sealed in interlocking engagement with the tongue 6 and the flap 4, and is entirely hidden from view, so that an envelop constructed in accordance with my invention conveys the same general appearance as any ordinary envelop of usual construction. It is also preferable to gum the inner face of the flap 4 at its side edges, so that the same may be sealed against the end flap 2, so that the envelop presents a compact appearance, and the interlocked tongues are disposed from view from the ends of the envelop.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is An envelop comprising a blank having a body portion, overlapping end flaps formed on the body portion, tapering side flaps formed on the body portion and beingof relatively different lengths, sealing tongues carried upon the free end edges of the side flaps, the longer of said side flaps being folded against the end flaps and having its sealing tongue bent backwardly upon itself, and the sealing tongue of the shorter flap being engaged between the outer face of thelonger flap and the inner face of the sealing tongue of the longer flap when said shorter flap is in folded position, the sealing tongue of said shorter flap being longer than the sealing tongue of said longer flap whereby the ends of the longer tongue project be yond the side edges of the longer flap for engagement against the outer faces of the end flaps and against the inner face of the shorter side flap whereby the interlocking sealing tongues are entirely hidden from View.

Intestimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS O. HUSTON. WVitnesses:

S; E. RALSTEN, J. Z. TREESH.

Gopi'esofthis patent may-be obtained for fiveueents each; by addressing the. Commissioner of'Patents,

Washington, 1). v0:? 7 

